“Come on,” I say. “We’re heading toward the empress’s quarters. Yell if you get into trouble.”
He forces his head to move in a fluent nod, but its jerky, revealing his fear. “I’ve seen them before . . . but I’ll never get used to them.” He swallows. “I’ve never encountered anything like them.”
“I know,” I say, and look down at the blood pooling beside the creature that resembles a man, if only in parts. “Centuries of living below ground has disfigured the bastards pretty good.” I look up at the prince and snap my fingers, awakening him from his trance. “Prince, let’s go.”
Holding his sword out before him, he falls into step behind me as I maneuver through the fray. I’m tempted to run my blade through every Otherworlder I see, but I push myself on, knowing I have to get inside the palace—to my Nactue and empress.
If I were with them now, where would I tell them to go? Where would I tell them to hide the empress? I consider contacting Lilly, but if she and Willa are in a safe hiding spot, I don’t want to give them away. And if it were me, I’d have turned off my transmitter for that very reason. They’re smart. If they’re with the empress, I know they’re okay.
I close my eyes only for a moment to feel the connection to Empress Iana. She’s alive, but something’s wrong. The link is weak—I can’t sense anything more.
Panic spurs my chest and my eyes snap open. I hold on to the thought that Lilly and Willa will protect her as we fight our way through the battle toward the palace entrance.
Glancing over my shoulder, I spot Prince Caben backed into a corner of the courtyard, facing off with an Otherworlder. “Of course,” I mutter. But before I reach him, a blade crosses my line of vision and I stagger backward. The nasty Otherworlder raises his arm to attack again and I swing upward, slicing off his sword-wielding hand. He drops to the ground and cradles his wrist, trying to staunch the flow of blood.
Farrah, the prince.
I sheath my dagger, grip my hilt with both hands, and charge—sword high and swinging—through the skirmish. The Otherworlder draws back his sword, ready to sever the prince’s head. A cry wrenches free from my throat as I slam my blade against his and force it down along his back. I wrap my arm around his neck, keeping his weapon pinned. My body trembles from the restraint, and a searing burn ignites my blood.
A powerful surge of energy bursts inside me, and the mercury quickens, speeding adrenaline through my veins like liquid fire. I squeeze, tightening my hold until I feel his sword arm weakening. Then I quickly release, step aside, and run my blade across his throat. He clutches his neck and gurgles a last, muted threat as he falls to the ground.
Prince Caben stares at me, his eyes wide as they flick over my face. I turn my back to him quickly, hiding my face from his probing eyes, and wait for the mercury to settle. I take in a steadying breath, forcing my blood to calm.
“How is it possible you overpowered a brawny monster like that?” he asks, coming up behind me.
“Come on,” I say, heading for the entrance.
He matches my pace. “It’s not possible.”
I huff, blowing my sweat-drenched bangs from my forehead. “I do a lot of pushups.”
He quits the subject as we climb the stairs. Otherworlders are pushing the protectors into the courtyard at full attack. I take off in a sprint to get to the doors before another wave hits.
We push through and scramble past worker-bots, dodging spilled mercury, metal gears, and hissing, frayed wires. Dead protectors clutter the inner ward, their severed limbs scattered around their bodies. Some sliced clean, others ripped from their torsos. The once-pristine white floor is covered in red, staining the grout a dark, grimy orange. The air stings my nose with the sharp, rusty scent of blood.
“They attacked here first and have moved on,” Prince Caben says. “It’s unlikely your Nactue or the empress remain. They probably evacuated her during the attack.”
Saying a prayer that he’s right, I strain to hear any movement or voices. Feel the bond to my empress. The palace is quiet, and her life force pulses low within me. But I need to check her quarters to be sure. “Keep on-guard. There still could be Otherworlders lurking.”
I don’t trust the lift to operate, so I dash for the spiral staircase. My breath pants out as I take them two at a time. Once we reach the empress’s wing, I stop, my feet locked in place.
My heart slams in my throat.
Lisa and Cara lie motionless in the corridor. Blood bathes the floor around them. I cover my mouth, and try to control the tremble of my limbs as I approach them. Kneeling, I press my fingers to Lisa’s neck to check for a pulse. Nothing. Her skin is still warm, but her life is gone. I do the same to Cara and confirm the worst for her, too.
A cry rips from my throat when I see Jordan and Missa farther down the hallway. “No!”
They’re dead.
Where’s Lilly and Willa?
Prince Caben rests his hand on my shoulder as my gaze trails the death laid out before me. “Kaliope . . .” he says, and I spot Carina on the floor, one hand gripping her transmitter, the other clutching her sliced-open stomach.
I bound up and run over, then kneel beside her and press my palm to her wound, trying to stop the blood flow. Bright red spills over my fingers, and I choke back the blistering lump in my throat.
Her eyes meet mine, weak and haunted. “There,” she rasps.
I shake my head. “Don’t talk. I’ll call for help—”